Crisis rocks Kogi APC as Ola rejects consensus move for Karimi

‎By Boluwaji Obahopo

‎The campaign team of Ustaz Zakari Abubakar Ola in the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected moves by the Kogi State Government to adopt Senator Sunday Karimi as a consensus candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial District.

‎Ola is insisting that all aspirants must face delegates at the party primary.

‎Speaking under the Ola Rescue Mission Team, spokesperson of the team, Abubakar Mohammed, said they were not consulted on any consensus arrangement and will therefore contest as an aspirant.

‎“The idea of choosing Senator Karimi as a consensus candidate is not the way to go, because the party itself said there will be nothing like consensus and everybody should go for the primary,” he said.

‎“Ustaz Zakari Abubakar Ola was never consulted nor contacted about any consensus candidate and based on this, Zakari Ola will be going into this race as an aspirant on Monday, Insha Allah.

“It’s Lokoja/Koto’s turn. The agitation from Lokoja/Koto federal constituency is based on a 20-year gap since the area last produced a senator.

“Yes, as you are all aware, we are in the race. Ola is one of the aspirants we have. Our brothers from the other side of the western senatorial district have been holding to this position for the past twenty years and that gives us the right here in Lokoja/Koto to agitate for that position after a long while.”

‎He noted that the last senator from Lokoja/Koto was Senator Tunde Ogbeha in 1999, “Since then it has been with the Okun people of Kogi West. Now we are saying it’s our turn. They don’t have any reason to continue holding on to that position.

‎“So at this stage they should consider us from Lokoja/Koto and Ustaz Zakari Abubakar Ola should lead,” he added.

‎On the Disputes within Yagba/Ijumu zoning argument, Ibukun faulted zoning claims within the Okun bloc, citing the 12-year tenure of former Senator Smart Adeyemi from Ijumu/Kabba federal constituency.

‎”He made us know that there is nothing like Yagba federal constituency, that Okun is Okun and that is the reason he has also thrown his hat into the race again.

‎“Now I don’t see the reason why Yagba or no Yagba should be the yardstick to decide who becomes the next senator for Kogi West. In any case, Yagba had allowed Ijumu/Kabba to use their term, so Lokoja/Koto should not suffer for what they have allowed.

‎“Lokoja/Koto has everything it takes to grab the seat. Power is not given. We have to go in and say this is our turn and rights, and the only way we can achieve that is to go with all the political strength and advantage we have.”

‎He also alleged that there were reports of external preferences for certain aspirants, but maintained that such moves do not reflect the will of constituents.

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